2009 FIAT IDEA engine

110
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
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TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
Have the airbag system
checked by a Fiat Dealership
if the car was stolen, if theft was at-
tempted, or if the car was subjected
to vandalism or flooding.
WARNING
Airbags may be deployed if
another vehicle crashes if the
key is inserted and at MAR also if the
engine is not running and the car is
stationary. For this reason, children
must never sit on the front seat, even
if the car is not moving. On the other
hand, if the key is inserted and at
STOP, none of the safety devices (air-
bag or pretensioners) will be deployed
in a collision. Non deployment of the
devices in this case does not indicate
a system fault.
WARNING
Do not travel carrying
objects in your lap, in front
of your chest or between your lips (pi-
pe, pencils, etc.): they could cause se-
vere injury if the airbag is deployed.
WARNING
When the ignition key is tur-
ned to MAR, the warning li-
ght
“(with passenger’s front air bag
active) turns on and flashes for few
seconds to remind that passenger’s air
bag will be deployed in a crash, af-
ter which it should go off.
WARNING
Do not wash the seats with
water or steam under pres-
sure (by hand or in automatic wa-
shing station for seats).
WARNING
Front air bag deployment
takes place at a higher level
of impact than the pretensioners. For
collisions in the range between the
two thresholds, it is normal for only
the pretensioners to be activated.
WARNING
Do not attach rigid objects
to the coat hooks and sup-
port handles.
WARNING
An airbag is not a replace-
ment for the seat belts but
increases their efficiency. Furthermo-
re, since front air bags are not de-
ployed in low speed collisions, side
collisions, rear-end shunts or roll-
overs, the passengers are only pro-
tected by the seat belts which must
be fastened at all times.
WARNING

111
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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EMERGENCY
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TECHNICAL
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ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
STARTING THE ENGINE ................................................. 112
PARKING THE VEHICLE .................................................. 114
USING THE GEARBOX .................................................... 115
CONTAINING RUNNING COSTS ............................... 116
TOWING TRAILERS .......................................................... 117
SNOW TYRES ...................................................................... 120
SNOW CHAINS .................................................................. 121
STORING THE CAR .......................................................... 122
S S
T T
A A
R R
T T
I I
N N
G G
A A
N N
D D
D D
R R
I I
V V
I I
N N
G G

112
WARNING
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EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
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TECHNICAL
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AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
STARTING THE ENGINE
The car is provided with an electronic en-
gine lock device: refer to “The Fiat CO-
DE system” paragraph in “Dashboard and
controls” if you cannot start the engine.
The engine may be noisier during the fir-
st seconds of operation, particularly after
a long period of inactivity. This is charac-
teristic of hydraulic tappets, the timing sy-
stem chosen for petrol engine versions to
reduce the number of servicing interven-
tions and does effects neither functiona-
lity nor reliability.
STARTING PROCEDURE FOR
PETROL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❒apply the handbrake;
❒put the gear lever into neutral;
❒press the clutch pedal all the way
down without touching the accelera-
tor;
❒turn the ignition key to AVVand let
it go the moment the engine starts.
It is dangerous to run the en-
gine in closed environments.
The engine consumes oxygen and en-
gine exhaust contains carbon dioxi-
de, carbon oxide and other toxic gas-
ses.
WARNINGIf the engine does not start at the first at-
tempt, return the ignition key to STOP
before repeating starting.
If, when the ignition key is at MAR, the in-
strument panel warning light
Yremains
lit together with warning light Uturn the
key to STOPand then back to MAR; if
the warning light remains on, try with the
other keys provided with the car.
If you still cannot start the engine, use the
emergency procedure (see “Emergency
starting” in the “In an emergency” chap-
ter) and go to a Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT Never leave the ignition key
to MARwhen the engine is off.
PROCEDURE FOR MULTIJET
VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❒apply the handbrake;
❒put the gear lever into neutral;
❒turn the ignition key to MAR; instru-
ment panel warning lights m,
Uand
Ywill light up;
❒Wait for the warning lights Yand
mto turn off. The hotter the engi-
ne is, the quicker this will happen;
❒press the clutch pedal all the way
down without touching the accelera-
tor; It is advisable not to demand
maximum performance from
your car (e.g. excessive acce-
lerations, long distances at
top rpm, excessive intense braking,
etc.) as soon as the engine is started.
Do not leave the key in the
ignition switch in the MAR
position with the engine off to
avoid unnecessary consump-
tion of electricity which could drain the
battery.

113
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SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
❒turn the ignition key to AVVas soon
as the warning light mturns off.
Waiting too long will waste the work
done by the heater plugs. Release the
key as soon as the engine starts.
IMPORTANT With the engine cold, the
accelerator must be entirely released
when turning the ignition key to position
AVV.
If the engine does not start at the first at-
tempt, return the ignition key to STOP
before repeating starting.
If, when the ignition key is at MAR, the
instrument panel warning light
Yre-
mains lit, turn the key to STOPand then
back to MAR; if the warning lights remain
on, try with the other keys provided with
the car.
Contact a Fiat Dealership if you still can-
not start the engine.
IMPORTANT Never leave the ignition key
to MARwhen the engine is off. Warning light
mwill blink
for 60 seconds after starting
or during prolonged cranking
to indicate a fault to the glow
plug heating system. Use the car nor-
mally if the engine starts and go to a
Fiat Dealership as soon as possible.
HOW TO WARM UP THE
ENGINE AFTER IT HAS JUST
STARTED (petrol and Multijet
engines)
Proceed as follows:
❒drive off slowly, letting the engine turn
at medium speed. Do not accelerate
abruptly;
❒do not demand maximum performan-
ce for the first few kilometres. Wait
until the engine coolant gauge starts
moving.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition to STOPwhile the en-
gine is idling.
IMPORTANT After a taxing drive, you
should allow the engine to “catch its
breath” before turning it off by letting it
idle to allow the temperature in the engi-
ne compartment to fall. Never jump start the engine
by pushing, towing or driving
downhill. This could cause a
flow of fuel into the catalytic
converter and damage it beyond re-
pair.
A quick burst on the accele-
rator before turning off the
engine serves absolutely no
practical purpose, it wastes
fuel and is damaging especially to tur-
bocharged engines.
Remember that the brake
booster and power steering
are not operational until the engine
has been started, therefore much
effort than usual is required on the
brake pedal and steering wheel.
WARNING

114
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
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AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
PARKING THE VEHICLE
Proceed as follows:
❒Stop the engine and engage the hand-
brake;
❒Engage a gear (on a slope, engage fir-
st gear if the vehicle is faced uphill or
reverse if it is faced downhill) and lea-
ve the wheels steered.
If the car is parked on a steep slope, it is
further advisable to block the wheels with
a wedge or stone. Avoid parking for a long
time with one wheel on the pavement or
steered against the kerb. Do not leave the
key in the ignition switch at MARto pre-
vent draining the battery. Always remo-
ve the key when you leave the car.
HANDBRAKE
The handbrake lever is located between
the two front seats.
Pull the lever upwards to operate the
handbrake.
Four or five notches are normally suffi-
cient to lock the car on flat terrain, while
nine or ten may be necessary on a steep
slope with the car loaded.
IMPORTANT If this is not the case, con-
tact Fiat Dealership to have the handbrake
adjusted.When the handbrake lever is pulled up
and the ignition key is at MAR, the in-
strument panel warning light
xwill turn
on.
Proceed as follows to release the hand-
brake:
❒slightly lift the handbrake and press re-
lease button A-fig. 1;
❒hold the button Apressed and lower
the lever; the warning light
xon the
instrument panel will go out.
Press the brake pedal when carrying out
this operation to prevent the car from
moving accidentally.
IMPORTANT if the handbrake lever tends
to reach end of stroke (groove on the
central tunnel), go to a Fiat dealership to
have the handbrake adjusted correctly.fig. 1F0H0149m
Never leave children unat-
tended in the car. Always re-
move the ignition key when leaving
the car and take it out with you.
WARNING

115
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
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TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
USING THE GEARBOX
To engage the gears, press the clutch pe-
dal fully and shift the gear lever into one
of the required positions (the diagram is
shown on the knob).
IMPORTANT Reverse may only be enga-
ged when the car is at a standstill. With
the engine running, wait for at least 2 se-
conds with the clutch pedal fully pressed
before engaging reverse to prevent da-
mage to the gears and grating.
To engage 6th gear (where provided),
operate the lever by pressing it towards
the right in order to avoid engaging 4th
gear by mistake. The same applies to shif-
ting from 6th to 5th gear.
To engage reverse Rfrom idle position,
lift the sliding ring A-fig. 2-3under the
knob and at the same time shift the lever
rightwards and then backwards (petrol
versions only).
For Multijet versions, simply move the le-
ver rightwards and then backwards.
fig. 2F0H0150mfig. 3F0H0353m
Press the clutch pedal fully
to change gears correctly.
For this reason, there must be no ob-
stacles on the floor under the pedals:
ensure that rubber mats (if any) are
correctly positioned, not interfering
with the pedals.
WARNINGDo not drive with your hand
resting on the gear lever, be-
cause this pressure, even if li-
ght, over time can wear out
the gearbox inner components.

116
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
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AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
CONTAINING
RUNNING COSTS
Here are some suggestions which may
help you to keep the running costs of your
vehicle down and lower the amount of
toxic emissions released into the atmo-
sphere.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
Have checks and adjustments carried out
in accordance with the “Service schedu-
le”.
Tyres
Check tyre pressure regularly, at least on-
ce every four weeks: excessively low pres-
sure will increase fuel consumption be-
cause rolling resistance will be higher.
Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with an overloaded boot.
Do not travel with too much luggage
stowed in the boot. The weight of the car
(especially when driving in town) and its
trim greatly affects consumption and sta-
bility.Roof rack/ski rack
Remove the roof rack or the ski rack from
the roof after use. These accessories de-
crease aerodynamic penetration of the car
and have a negative effect on consumption.
It is better to use a trailer to transport
particularly bulky objects.
Electrical devices
Use electrical devices only for the amount
of time needed. Rear heated window, ad-
ditional headlights, windscreen wipers and
heater fan need a considerable amount of
energy, therefore increasing the require-
ment of current increases fuel consump-
tion (up to +25% in the urban cycle).
Climate control
The climate control system requires hi-
gher fuel consumption (up to +20% in ave-
rage): use the air vents when the exter-
nal temperature allows to.
Spoilers
The use of non-certified aerodynamic
items may adversely affect air drag and fuel
consumption levels.DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm the engine up with the car
standing: the engine warms up very slowly
in these conditions, increasing fuel con-
sumption and emissions. It is advisable to
start off immediately and slowly keeping
the engine speed down: the engine will
warm up much faster this way.
Unnecessary actions
Avoid revving up when starting at traffic
lights or before stopping the engine. The
latter action, like doubling the clutch, is un-
necessary and causes increase of con-
sumption and pollution.
Gear selection
Use a higher gear as soon as traffic and
road conditions allow. Using a low gear
for faster acceleration will increase fuel
consumption.
In the same way improper use of a high
gear increases consumption, emissions an
engine wear.

117
WARNING
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EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
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AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
Average speed
Fuel consumption considerably increases
as speed increases. Keep your speed as
even as possible, avoiding unnecessary
braking and acceleration, which cause ex-
cessive fuel consumption and increased
emissions.
Acceleration
Sudden acceleration has a very negative
effect on fuel consumption and emissions:
accelerate gradually and do not go over
the maximum torque ratio.OPERATING METHOD
Cold starting
Short distances and frequent cold start-
ups will prevent the engine from reaching
optimal running temperature. Conse-
quently, both consumption (from +15 to
+30% on urban cycle ) and emissions will
increase.
Traffic and road conditions
Quite high consumption is caused by
heavy traffic, for instance when travelling
in a queue with frequent use of low gears
or in cities with many traffic lights. Moun-
tain and rough roads also have a negative
effect on fuel consumption.
Traffic hold-ups
During prolonged hold-ups (e.g. level cros-
sings) the engine should be switched off.TOWING TRAILERS
IMPORTANT NOTES
The car must be provided with a type-ap-
proved tow hitch and adequate electrical
system to tow caravans or trailers. Instal-
lation must be performed by specialised
personnel who will issue the required pa-
pers for travelling on roads.
Install any specific and/or additional rear-
view mirrors as specified by the Highway
Code.
Remember that when towing a trailer,
steep hills are harder to climb, the braking
spaces increase and overtaking takes lon-
ger depending on the overall weight.
Engage a low gear when driving downhill,
rather than constantly using the brake.
The weight of the trailer on the car’s tow
hitch will reduce the loading capacity of
the car by the same amount. Consider the
weight of the vehicle fully laden, including
accessories and luggage to make sure you
do not exceed the maximum towable wei-
ght (shown on the log book).